http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
IN THIS YEAR'S inevitable election post-mortem, I think Republicans
should seriously consider why they haven't been able to break the race
barrier. Given their new president, they couldn't be better positioned
to tackle this problem.

First, let me clarify something. It bothers me and, I'm sure, most
Republicans and conservatives to think in these terms. We prefer to
approach politics from a purely colorblind perspective. We don't want to
fashion policies geared to one particular race or gender group.

What I'm referring to is a bit different. I think it's time that
Republicans countered the negative stereotypes fostered by the
Democratic Party concerning the Republicans' attitude toward blacks.
Sure, Republicans will gain politically if they discredit these
stereotypes, and I'm all for that, but society as a whole will benefit
as well.

Presidential exit polls show that 90 percent of black voters chose
Gore, and only 9 percent voted for Bush. Those numbers are staggering
and alarming, but they aren't that different from previous elections.
What motivated me to write this column, however, was two back-to-back
e-mails I received last weekend.

One e-mailer wrote, "It's not diatribe that Republicans have contempt
for the poor and blacks. Just listen in sometime to your brother
preaching to his flock, for instance. I suppose you-all think now that
Bush has or will appoint a couple of token African Americans to his
cabinet, black folks should just get down and kiss his feet and forget
all past indignities, discrimination and unfairness. I almost feel sorry
for my conservative acquaintances who despise blacks. The first two
appointments to the new cabinet (are) African Americans! This must be a
bitter pill for them to swallow."

Another one was similar, but contained too much profanity to be
reproduced in this column. But you get the point. Just to be sure, let
me explain:

In my humblest of opinions, these are not just isolated, radical
liberal or Democratic e-mailers. I've been discussing politics long
enough to know that many Democrats either believe or want to create the
impression for partisan purposes that Republicans truly are racists.
Indeed, if the truth be known, many harbor the belief that ideological
conservatism itself is just one big hate crime.

How else do you explain the incredibly monolithic black vote? How
else do you explain Jesse Jackson's continued prominence notwithstanding
his irresponsible and destructive rhetoric? Why doesn't this preacher of
the Gospel lose all credibility when he says that "voting while black"
is the newest crime and that there will be blood in the streets? Why is
Jesse not shamed off the stage for claiming that Republicans tried to
disenfranchise blacks in Florida just because certain counties with
large black populations have less modern voting equipment? Keep in mind
that these counties are under Democratic control.

I have to assume that Jesse would quit spewing this vitriol if it
didn't work. But how can it possibly work? How can such falsehoods have
any traction in the black community?

I'm really not sure, but I think it's time we tried to find out. I
think it's time that Republicans began to counter the propaganda. I
think it's time that Republicans challenge Democrats to tone down the
racially divisive rhetoric. That and its cousin -- class warfare
demagoguery -- are greatly polarizing and damaging our society in ways
that transcend mere party politics.

Perhaps the Democratic leadership is afraid to debate the merits of
the issues without using the club of racial politics. Maybe they're
afraid that if they quit dividing people along racial, gender and
socioeconomic lines they will relegate themselves to political
obscurity. After all, they can barely win elections with 90 percent of
the black vote. What if they garnered only half the black vote?

It is ironic that a Republican president-elect has already named
three minorities (one also a woman) to his inner circle -- and he has
just begun. Yet I don't think their race had anything to do with Bush
picking them. He doesn't think in those terms. As a society we'd all be
better off if no one else did either.

George W. Bush is just the type of leader to demonstrate that
Republicans care about the plight of all people, irrespective of race,
gender or socio-economic status. The public's acceptance of that message
will be good for Republicans, but more importantly for the health of our
nation.

JWR contributor
David Limbaugh
is an
attorney
practicing in
Cape Girardeau,
Missouri,
and a
political
analyst
and
commentator. Send your comments to him by clicking here.